I am going to compile this note by copying my diary as possibly that is the easiest
and at the same time most enlightening (to you) way of doing it. Please let Aunt Nina see
it and then send it on to Marjorie. If I ask like this to have letters sent around, I hope
you will do it as it will save me writing that many more accounts of my adventures and
also please send them to just the people I mention, as then I can plan my writing
accordingly.

April 29

Sunday, but no one would know it. Sky overcast and quite a sea running which grew
during the day. A number were sick, but I have escaped so far. This morning we loafed
around on deck. In the afternoon, some of us walked 80 times around the ship - about 10
miles.

223 miles till noon

April 30

Rather warmer today, but sky still overcast. More fellows appeared at table, but
many are still in their bunks. The sea is less choppy and the big rollers lay the ship way
over. This afternoon we saw a ship way off on the horizon. Food fine - ate mostly on deck.

323 miles from noon yesterday till noon today.

May 1

Still overcast and stormy. Cold. The sea seems to be getting rougher daily, but we
are getting used to it. The greatest happening of today was when John Hurlburt rolled out
of his bunk about 4 A. M. Spent most of the day in my steamer chair on deck letting the
deck steward feed us tea, boullion, sandwiches and crackers.

321 miles

May 2

Very rough today. Could hardly see the horizon from the deck when we were down
between some of the waves. Less doing than yesterday. Bruce Hopper told us stories of
Hawaii most of the day.

338 miles

May 3

Woke up at 10:30 this morning. Fine clear day. Everybody feels better for the
change from stormy weather. Had our first lifeboat drill. Saw how the boats were lowered.
Tried on life preservers and were told where to embark. Stayed up till 1 A. M. singing
with the gang.

342 miles

May 4

Wonderful weather and fine smooth sea. Slept till nearly noon. We are eating so
much that they are speeding up the boat so that the food will last till we reach port. The
men cleaned up the guns today and the boat is having a new coat of gray paint. A whale
appeared this afternoon.

360 miles

May 5

Weather still wonderful. Saw a four-masted square rigger with every sail set and a
school of porpoises today. Learned from talking to the crew that we went as far North as
Halifax before we cut South. Watches will be doubled tonight. Due at Bordeaux Tuesday.

365 miles

Enter danger zone about 11 tonight.

By the way - I have learned from men who have been over that when one sends things
across, i. e., packages of small things, that it is better to make up two or three tightly
tied small packages which would be securely wrapped and hard to open rather than one big
bulky one. The customs sometimes don't put back all the little things into a big package
if they take a fancy to opening it and they are not inclined to open all the small
packages. It also seems that the hardest things to get are soap that really cuts grease
and American tooth paste, etc. Chocolate is also hard to get at the front proper.

May 6

Two ships and two whales were seen this morning. The fore and aft guns were trained
on them and there was quite some excitement for awhile. Last night some 10 fellows slept
on deck, but nothing has happened and it seems as though they were pretty well on the
lookout. Nothing more exciting till this evening when we sighted a number of lights,
possibly Cape Finister and others on the Spanish coast. Grew foggy toward evening. All
lights including port and starboard running lights were put out. We were all told to sleep
with our clothes on. Lifeboats were swung out early this morning. The phosphorescence in
the water tonight was quite marked.

354 miles

May 7

Foggy, gray and cold. The sea is more like it should be considering the size of it
and less like a duck pond. Croote says that we wait to return by aeroplane or till a
bridge is built. Shot for typhoid this afternoon (2nd dose). Nothing else happened this
afternoon except that it began to rain. Customs inspectors to come on tomorrow at six. Due
to land at 8 A. M.

375 miles

Only 195 to go at noon today.

Now, as I have to mail this before I get off the ship, I cannot carry it any
further. As to things I may want. So far it has been rather hard to discover anything but
a T shirt (chest size 38) will fit in very handily and I also discovered that a great many
people are sending over sugar as that is hardly obtainable. I would like a can of
Neatsfoot oil and a paint brush about 1 1/2 or 2 inches wide for use caring for shoes as
that is said by the men on board who have been over as the handiest and most useful method
of oiling shoes as grease makes it hard to pack shoes next to other things. Marj. sent a
telegram to the boat saying that she could not get down because of her friend, so please
send this to her as I only dropped her a short line of thanks c/o he pilot boat for the
said telegram.

Well, I guess this is a fairly complete history and being so, I have very little
more to say. We haven't had any news of the U. S. for 5 days but I hope everything is
going all right. You might let Mr. and Mrs. Butler know that you have heard from me as
they wanted me to write but I haven't really had a chance, strange as that may sound.
Really looking back the trip seems to have gone very fast. We are thoroughly in the danger
zone now and they are going to put out the lights in just a moment so I must stop.

Harvey

P. S. All little commodities are of course acceptable Feeling fine as I have all
the way.